Infinitely variable speed, cutter spindle drive unit for machine tools



T. F. ESERKALN ET AL INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE Sept. 12, 1950 V DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed May 29, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1950 22 5 3 2 m 2 A 55 2 a e w m 9 m I P. s R E T T U C T. F. ESERKALN Er AL I'NFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed May 29, 1947 and M if s T. F. ESERKALN ETAL 2,522,352 INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE v DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed May 29, 1947 I n- 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 12, 1950 Sept. 12, 1950 T. F. ESERKALN ETAL 2,522,352

INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 29, 1947 5TART 51m:-

' Filed May 29, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet a Sept. 12, 1950 T. F. ESERKALN EI'AL 2,522,352

INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS i 5 TC 3; I

Sept. 12, 1950 T. F. ESERKALN ETAL 2,522,352

INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 29, 1947 Sept. 12, 1950 'r. F. ESERKALN E I'AL 2,522,352

INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE DRIVE um FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed May 29, 1947 1 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 QN Av Sept. 12, 1950 'r. F. ESERKALN ETAL INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED, CUTTER SPINDLE DRIVE UNIT FOR MACHINE TOOLS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 29, 1947 utilizing variable effective diameter pulleys for simultaneous adjustment for infinite speed variations throughout the range of adjustment; and further to provide a mechanically simple and eflicient operator controlled mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the pulleys of the drive i from a single control point=simultaneously with and without stopping or interrupting the operation of the drive and the cutter spindle driven thereby.

Other objects are to provide an efiicient design and construction of spindle drive mechanism of 7 of the drive mechanism is such that the driving i and driven pulleys and corresponding elements thereof are of identical design and construction, so that these pulleys are interchangeable; to provide a mechanically simple and efiicient mounting for the driving pulley by which that pulley ffloats under a spring loading so as to maintain constant belt tension on the multiple V-belts associated with said pulleys; and further to provide anarrangement of driving and driven pulley mounting and supporting structure or brackets by which a belt or belts may be removed from or mounted in operative relation on the pulleys without requiring any disassembly and removal orreplacement and reassembly of the drive mechanism and its mounting and supporting structure. Another object is to provide a construction and mountingfor a variable effective diameter pulley and its adjusting mechanism, by which such pulley and adjusting mechanism, together with the supporting structure therefor, provides a complete self-supporting unit, which while adapted toreceive and to drive or be driven by a shaft, is not dependent upon such shaft for either mounting or for aligning or positioning support, but iscompletely operable and adjustable with or without a shaft being associated therewith; and further to provide an infinitely variable speed drive comprising such self-supporting variable effective diameter pulley units and their adjusting mechanism, in belted driving connection with each unit being adapted to receive a shaft and to have driving or driven relation with such shaft, but without mounting support from such shaft.

And the invention holds as a further object the provision of designs and construction of infinitely variable speed drive mechanisms of the multiple V-belt, variable effective diameter pulley types, which are of. general utility as variable speed drive mechanisms, apart from their association and combination with the power driven change speedtransmission and the cutter spindle supporting structure or ram making up the selfcontained variable speed spindle drive unit of the presentinvention.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others which will be readily apparent from the follow-.

ing explanation and detailed description, the invention consists in certain novel features and ingdesigns, constructions, arrangements, mount- 4 ing and combination of elements and organizetions, all as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the selfcontained spindle mounting ram. and variable speed spindle drive unit of the invention, the unit being shown in adjustably mounted position on the column of a vertical spindle machine tool, and the change speed transmission and infinitely variable, spindle speed drive mechanism being indicated therein in dotted lines.

Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C, together constitute a verticallongitudinal section through the spindle mounting ram and variable speed drive unit of Fig. 1, Fig. 2A being a section through the forward, cutter spindle mounting end of the ram lit and the spindle driving pulley of the variable speed drive; Fig. 23 being a section through the driving pulley of the variable speed spindle drive;

and Fig. 20 being a section through the change speed transmission of the unit.

Fig. 3 is a purely schematic view showing a wiring diagram for the motor and operating circuits therefor of the ram and drive unit.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the unit of Fig. 1, taken as on the line l4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailed view in top plan of the change speed transmission showing particularly the operator controlled clutch actuating mechanism for such transmission.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view in side elevation showing the manual control lever for operating the clutch actuating mechanism of the change speed transmission, together with the associated indicia plate for indicating the operating positions of the lever.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the infinitely variable, spindle speed drive and the operator controlled adjusting mechanism therefor, of the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the drive and adjusting mechanism of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the ram structure and the floating carriage for the driving pulley of the variable speed drive mechanism, the driving pulley assembly having been removed from the carriage, and the bracket structures for the driving pulley and the driven spindle pulley being shown in horizontal cross section. Fig. 10 is a detailed view in vertical axial section through one of the support and guide rods and its anti-friction mounting, of the driving pulley supporting carriage, the carriage actuating spring mounted on said rod being also shown in section.

Fig. 10A is a vertical transverse section taken ason the line IDA-"1A of Fig. 10.

- Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the index plate for th spindle speed indicator dial.

The feature of the invention which provides as a self-contained unit, a cutter spindle carrying structure and a power driven transmission and infinitely variable speed drive mechanism for said spindle, is expressed in the selected example thereof as being embodied in a cutter spindle carrying structure for a machine tool of the vertical cutter spindle type in which the spindle carrying structure is mounted in the machine tool organization for generally horizontal adjustment to position the cutter spindle relative to a work table located below such spindle. Such vertical cutter spindle types of machine tools having a cutter spindle carrying structure. or ram adjustably mounted on the machine tool main frame tried on the ram structure It! at the rear end thereof; a change speed transmission and clutch unit T mounted on the ram structure l enclosed within the compartment Me which is formed in the rear end portion of such structure, saidzunit T being operatively coupled with and driven by the motor M; and an infinitely variable speed drive mechanism or unit V mounted on and within the ram structure l0 between the transmission unit T and the cutter spindle l which is mounted at the forward end of the ram structure, with said variable speed mechanism V being driven by the change speed transmission T and being operatively coupled with and driving the cutter spindle l5. 1

The unit R further includes a suitable single operator control element, such as the hand lever TC, which is conveniently located on a side of the ram structure It for selectively operating the actuating mechanism for adjusting the change speed transmission to deliver different speeds to the infinitely variable speed mechanism V; and also includes a suitable single operator control element, such as the hand crank VC, located on a side of the ram structure l0 convenient to an operator for selectively operating the mechanism for adjusting the infinitely variable speed unit V to operate the cutter spindle l5 at a desired speed of rotation within the range of adjustment of the unit V as determined by the selected driving speed.- delivered to the variable speed unit V by the change speed transmission T.

Suitable indicia are provided of a form readily visible by an operator at the diiferent positions of adjustment of the hand ever TC for the different speeds, respectively, of the transmission T, so as to visually indicate to an operator the different transmission speed adjustment positions of lever TC. An indicator dial VD is mounted in readily visible position extending upwardly from the unit R for automatic operation by actuation of the adjusting mechanism for the variable speed unit V, to visually indicate to an operator the rate of speed of rotation of the cutter spindle l 5 at each position of adjustment of the unit V by the hand crank VC.

The 77102501 The motor M is, in this particular example, of the constant horse-power type having two (2) different speeds of operation at which it may be selectively operated. A wiring diagram for such type of motor is purely schematically shown in Fig. 3, of the drawings and is of a generally conventional character and will be readily understood by those familiar with this type of motor and the operating circuits thereof. The motor'M includes a main driven shaft 20, and in the selected example hereof, the two (2) operating speeds of the motor rotate the motor shaft Zllat two (2) rates of speed, respectively, namely, a low speed of 850 R. P. M, and a high speed of 1725 R. P. M. However, attention is here directed to the fact that the invention is not limited or restricted to these particular rates of speed of shaft operation in a two-speed motor, or, in fact, to the use of a two-speed motor, as a multi-speedmotor having more than two (2) speeds may be employed, if desired. And it is to be further noted that the invention is not essentially limited to the use of a multi-speed motor as a single speed motor may be employed, if found desirable or expedient under the conditions and requirements encoun'- tered by any particular'adaptation and use of the invention.

7 ing switch 2| and the stop switch 22.

The operatorv control ,(not shown) fdrseledtively conditioning the motor M and its operating circuits, for operation at either its high speed or its low speed, may be located at any suitable or convenient point on the ram unit R or in the machine organization with which the unit R is used.

i The main operator control of the motor circuits for starting and stopping operationof. the motor M, is preferably mounted on and carried by the ram structure it as a part or element of the self-contained ram and drive unit R. Such main operator control may take any usual or desired form, but inthis particular example, such control, referring now to Fig. 2A of the drawings, is provided as a combined spindle brake and motor circuit controlling switch organization, which includes a common manual operating lever L. pivotally mounted to the rear of the cutter spindle l5 on a bracket element of the variable speed drive mechanism mounted on the ram structure H1, in operative association with a spindle brake mechanism B andmotor circuit controlling electrical switchesconsisting of the start- As this combined motor circuit switch and brake mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the same. herein in detail. Suffice it to say, that the manually actuated lever L is vertically swingable to actuate the motor starting switch 2i and is horizontally swingable to actuate the motor circuit stop switch 22 to stop operation of the motor and apply the brake mechanism B in that sequence. The upwardly swung position of lever L to actuate starting switch 2| is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2A of the drawings. The starting switch 2| and motorv stop switch 22 are indicated schematically in the motor circuit diagram of Fig. 3 of the drawings. Obviously, any other suitable operator con trol for the motor circuits for starting and'stopping operation of motor M may be utilized, if desired or found expedient.

The change speed transmission The change speed transmission T, including the operating clutches thereof, is provided as a unit which is removably mounted and housed within the compartment Hie provided in the rear end portion of the ram structure Iii, and, in this instance, includes a casing formed of a shaft tunnel forming section 23, and a change speed gear and clutch housing and mounting section 24. The shaft tunnel section 23 of the casing is mounted in horizontally disposed position extending forwardly from the rear endof ram structure It a distance into chamber lOe, being suitably attached at its rear end to and supported from the rear end of structure ID. The change speed gear and clutch mounting section 24 of the casingis mounted and secured on the forward end of cas ing section 23 within chamber Illa, and extends forwardly therefrom to and terminates spaced from the transverse wall lflc of ram structure l0.

-' The section 24 is of greater depth than the depth of the shaft tunnel forming section 23, and de-' pends a distance downwardly within chamber Ifle below the casing section 23, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 20 ,of the drawings.

The change speed gearing of the transmission T is, in this instance, of the two-speed type, that is, the transmission is capable of adjustmentto deliver either of two (2 different speeds, a. low speed Ora high speed to the driving or output shaft from asaassa 9i theitransmission; The: change: speeds gearing .off the transmission includes-a horizontally disposed: inputnr-driven: shaftt3ll'rcoupled iwithandidriven' by the motor M, and a parallel. countershaftf40= spaced thereb'elow andconstituting: the drivin or output' shaftofwthe" transmission. w

These driven sh'afts 3ll 'and4fli' are adapted to be operatively connected 1m driving relation"'by= a low-speed 'gearset formed by the small diam-' eter-f'gear 34' onshaft- 3llin-' constant mesh-with alarger diametergear-43' on shaft; anda high speed gear set; constituted by a large diameter gear 33 on shaft 30in constant mesh with a smaller diameter gear 44 on; shaft Y 40! In this instance; the smallerdiameter gears fl and 44 ofthelow and highhspeedgear sets, respectively: are fixed totheirrespective sl'iafts-'30*and; 40 for rotation therewith; while each" of the larger-- diameter gears 33 and43 of the gear sets; respectively, is mounted on its respective -shaft-3ll=' 017"; for rotationiof the gear onandindependently" of its shaft; and for rotation jof Y such shaft independently ofQits gear; 'Withthe gearsf33iand 43- of the-high and low gear'setsboth conjditionedf for rotation independently of their' 'respective e'nt rdeliveryuor-outputv speeds: forthe driving;

isi. rotated at the low speed ofoperation. of 850" and the. change speed transmissione is: adjustedi'i or operation; of the low speed gearset; 3-4;+4'3zi-the-idriving shaft-:40. will .be operated. at; 432553;. B. M:;. while-if :ithes transmission is adjusted for operationiof'tthe high speedagear set"33..-4'4;=

shaftsf and (neutral condition),rotation-"of the driven shaft 3 0 will not impart" rotation; to the'drivingshaftf 40,;because the small diameter: gear '34 fixed on: shaft 30 will merelyrotate the large 'diameter g ear 43 of the low-speed gear :set on" and independently of shaft 40, while shaft 30' will .rotate' independently of; the large'jdiam'j etergar133 of "the high speedgearjsetso that; no, rotary motion. will .be transmitted to i thef gear skfixed on shaft'tli; by the'id'legear a Gears 33 and43 offflthe high1andldwspeed gear sets, respectiyely,i, are .adapted to be engaged with their respective, shafts. 3 0 and 54011 by means of suitable multiple disc clutch. units; 35. and mountedon' shafts '30 and 40.; respectively, inoperative association, with. the, respective. gears. B3QZand-43. for simultaneous. operation to alter natelyrclutch. gear.,313.'into driving relation with shaft 13!! 1 (high speed) and ,declutch gear... 43-ffrom. driving. relation with.-shaft... 4.0, (idling) or. de-. clutch gear 3 3..fronr shaft .30. (idling) and clutch gear .4 3.1.into driving relation with. shaft All (low peed In this .manner-..the..low. andhigh speed gear... sets may be rendered, selectively; operable. to. place the. driven. shaft... 3mm. driringqrelation with-the driving shaftlll so, that the-.- latter. shafit;

ls;.operated,at. the.selected...low-.orfhighspeedloii operation; U i Inthisspecific example. which iS-IIOt to. be com sidered asreStricti e-or; limiting, .the. smelled i=- ameter gears... and 44 which are .fixedon..the

shafts. 3.0.. and. 4.0,. respectively, are. each .of.iden-.-.;

tical dimensions and the. larger diameter 'gg'ears. 33,.and-43 are of identical dimensions. with-.each gearsethaving a',2..;.1 gear. ratio... Amhereinbeiore explained, the. motor M is of the two speedi type having a. 1ow. speed of operation at which... motor; shaft; 20 .isrrotated:att350LR. E..;M.,.-and.- ahighspeed of operation at. whichmotorzshaitiflis-rotated'.at.1'-725 -R.. P. M.- Asa-motor shaftazil -in. this. example isd-irectly coupledtothe driven Shari-i 30,

this..-latter shat-twill bes'd-rivenhy the; motorat similar ratespoh rotation rforthi h and low "speed operations, ;respectively',. of; motor-.M; The motor M is capable of operation at either of two"speeds, soithat, if the two delivery speedsfor-whichtransthe driven shaft 40 will be operated. at 1700;

R52: M; If the'motor-M iszoperated at high speed to! rotate; the driven-f shaft? 30 of L transmission-T at; 17253;. then-if, the transmission ls-Jadf justed for" operation of the? low speed gear :set ME -43;? the drivingrshaft 4010f the transmission ibeeoperated atg'862lR- P. M:; and if the trans-: mission. is". adjusted i'for operation of. the hfgljt speed igeartset 233%, then the driving shaftdfl Sha'ftv30 :is extended rearwardly through this bearing assembly a distance into the forward end of the shaft tunnel formed'by-the casing section 23; an'dthe rear' end of this shaft30 is connected bya suitable shaftcoupling 20b-with the forward 1 end of a shaftse'ction ZUa-Which may either consistofa forward extensionof the motor shaft; or of-a suitable shaft section coupled at its rear er id -toithe iorward end of-motor shaft 20. The

large-"diameter'gear"33* of'the high speed gear set is provided with -a' forwardly extending hollowhub 32 Wh-ich is-mounted and rotatablyjourenaled= in a set of annular; anti-friction bearing assemblies 32a in the-Vertically disposed forward wall 24'a o-i the casing section 24, gear 33 being located atthe inner endofsaid hub within casi'ng seotio1r2-4 iii-"proximity to the inner side oft'he wall 24a butih-aving operating clearance there= with. The' forwardend'of the driven shaftj3fliis formed with areduced diameter section 3| which extends forwardly into and is rotatably received and journale'd in the hollow hub 32.0f1the gear 33: Gear} 33' is thus mounted on the reduced diameter; section" 3 I f of shaft 30 for rotation thereon independentlythereof an'dj'of "shaft 30; or for rotation of'-"shaftf30= independently of said-gear; I

The drivingoroutput shaft 40. is supported'by and journaled; at its; forward end, in an annular,

- anti-friction bearing assembly 400, which is mounted in the 'forwardwall 24 rof casingsec ti'on2'4 below shaft 3B1and the bearing assemblies. 32i'thereof: shaman at its forward-"endexte'ndsthrough'bearing assembly 40a,.and. wall 24a to.

a provide. an extended. shaft. sectionAflb. (see Fig.

mission" .I.-: iscapable of operation; are 'each d-ifferent from each of said-motor speeds, itthen fol lows; that-the transmission 1T4 is; capable .of. .being; selectirely operated at any oneof four (4% differs-1 2B) 'forj operative; connectionwith the infinitely. variable. speed; spindle .drive. mechanism V oi-the invention. to. be hereinafter described ..and :-ex.:- plained. The-large; diameter. gear 43 of thelow speed-gearsetisin all respects similar to ar- 3.3- of; the; high speedgear set which is mounted: on: shaft 3-0,, and. this gear: 43. is provided witha rearwardlpextendihgzhollow-hub 42.:which ismounteda and-.- rctatably j ournaledin a. set of anti-friction bearingassemblies-sfla mountedin a vertically disposed wall-- portion 24b of casing section-:- 2.4 below; bearing. assembly 30a: forthe rear: end. or

1:! shaft 35 thereabove Gear 43 is thus'locateclfat the inner end of said hub within casing section 24adjacent the inner side of wall portion 24b in proximity thereto but having operating clearance lective operation to engage and release gears 33 and 43 from driving relation with their respectiveshafts; are similar and each is of a familiar and well-known multiple disc type of clutch unit. For'example, the clutch unit 35 is mounted on shaft 33 concentric with such shaft positioned between the gears 33.-and 34 and in operative association with gear 33 for clutching engagement and disengagement with that gear through the medium of the usual multiple disc clutching mechanism of the clutch unit. The body of the clutch unit 3511 mounted on shaft 30 is keyed to thatshaft for rotation therewith and the end of the clutch-unit adjacent gear 33 extends into a recess 33a formedin the inner side of the gear body concentric with the axis of the gear for plac-' ingthe clutch unit in relation with the gear for operation .of the multiple disc clutching mechanism of the unit to engage and disengage the gear and thus place the gear in driving and nondriving relation with the shaft 30. The body of the clutch unit 35 is formed with a' reduced diameter section 35a at the end thereof opposite gear 33, and the usual grooved clutch actuating collar 35-is mounted on such reduced diameter section for sliding movement thereon avially thereof Axial movement of collar 36- toward gear 33 a-ctuates the multiple disc clutch mech-- anism to engage-gear 33 so that the gear is rotated by shaft 30, while axial movement of the collar away from gear 33 actuates the multiple disc clutch mechanism to disengageand release gear 33 from driving connection with shaft 30 for rotation of shaft 30 and clutch unit35 independ ently of the gear. The grooved actuating'collar 38- on the clutch unit 35 is shown in Fig. 2G, in position with the clutch engaging gear 33 to place the gear in drivingconnection with shaft 30.

,,The clutch unit 45 which is-mounted on shaft 40 between gears 43 and 44 is similar to clutch unit 35 generally described hereinabove, but is mounted with its reduced diameter section 45a located at the forward end thereof adjacent the small diameter gear 44. The end of clutch unit 45 which is adjacent gear 43 is extended into a recess 43a formed in the inner side of the gear body concentric with the axis, of the gear, for placing the. clutch unit 45 in relation with the gear for operation of the multiple .disc clutching mechanism to engage and disengage gear 43. Clutch unit 45 is provided with the grooved clutch actuating collar 46 mounted on the reduced diameter section 4511 of the clutch body for sliding movement axially thereon toward gear 43 to actuate' the multiple disc clutching mechanism to engage's'uch gear with shaft 30 and for movement in a, direction away from gear 43 to actuate the multiple disc clutching mechanism to disengage and release gear 43 for rotation of shaft 40 and of the clutch unit '45 independently of gear 43. The clutch actuating collar '46 is shown in Fig.

2C, in position with the multiple discclutchlng mechanism of unit 45 actuated to disengage gear 43. for rotation of "said gearfon and independently of'driving shaft 40.

i Operator control mechanism for simultaneously actuating the clutch units and 45 is pro vided-and is so arrangedthatwhen one of these clutch units is in clutched position engaging its gear with: its respective shaft,- the other clutch unit is always indisengaged position releasing its gear from driving relation with its respective shaft: Such operator z'controlled mechanism, referring now to Figs-14,5 and 6, includes and featuresia single manual operating element, such as the hand lever TC which ,is located'atthe ex terior of one side wall 10b, ofthe ram structure. 10, in this instance theiright hand sidewall when faclng the front of the unit It, adjacent the rear end of such structure-at the location of the trans-. missionTthereinw i The hand crank- TC is mounted on and extends. radially upwardly from the outer endof a horizontally disposedshaft 50 which is mounted and rotatably journaled win a suitable bearing 50a mounted in-the side wall [0b, with the shaft ex tending inwardly and .'.transversely through wall. [thin the bearing; 55a. :The shaft is located in a horizontal plane generally midway or inter!- mediate the axes. of; the vertically spaced driven anddriving shaftsi 3B and of the transmission; unit, and an eccentric5l .is fixed on the inner end ofshaft 5G for rotation by that shaft. A rod 52 is mounted in horizont'alposition extending between and with its forward and rear ends mounted fixed in the forward wall portion 24a and the rear wall portion. 24 b,.respectively, of the casing section 2 4f(see Fig, 5); This rod 52 is mounted with its axis parallel to the axes of shafts 30 and 40 and is located'with lts axis in the horizontal planewhichpasses between the vertically spaced clutch units 35, and on shafts 30 and 40. A slide block 53'is slidably mounted on and carried by rod 52 for axialmovement in either direction thereon, and this block' mounts andrcarries an actuating pin 54 extending outwardly therefrom and received andgeng'aged'in' slot or groove 54a formed in the inner side of eccentric 5| disposed extending radially .tli e'reof; Pin 54 engages in slot 54a at a locationjradiall y spaced from or eccentric relative to 'the axis'of disc 5| and its shaft 50. 'Thus, by swinging hand -crank TC to the right or tothe left, shaft is correspondingly rocked and through the medium of the eccentric 5i and pin 54, will slide block 53 axially of rod 52 to the right or to the left therealong, that is forwardly or rearwardly'relative to ram unit R.

The slide block 53 mounts and carries a fork member 55 fixed thereon which extends upwardly andinwardly from the rear side thereof, and also mounts a similar fork member 56, fixed thereon which extends downwardly and inwardly from the forward end'of the block. The fork member 55 -is operatively engaged in the grooved clutch actuating ring 36 of the clutch unit 35, while the fork member 55 is operatively engaged in the grooved clutch actuating ring 46 for the clutch unit 45. These fork'm'e'mbers are fixed on slide block 53 and are movable therewith axially of rod 52 to simultaneously move'their respective clutch actuating rings 36 and 46 axially of clutch units 35 and'45. l I

In operation, when'hand lever TC is swung for-- wardly to its limit of forward movement, the slide block 53 is moved forwardly on rod 52 so'that fork 55 moves'the actuating ring 36 of clutch'unit 35 forwardly to-clutched position connecting gear it'witli: driven; shaft 30 so thatidrivlngrshaft Budsthemdrivenby the high speed gearzset; 3,37-e4 4; In; this: operation: of, the change speed;. transmission;, the. fork member 56 is: simultaneously moved. for;-

wardly to move actuating-ring-AB-of: clutchru-n-it;

' tuating; clutch unit #5V to engage, gear 1543i ofthe.

low speed gear: set with, the driving: shaft 40,150

that; shaft 4!! is then driven at low speed by; gears and 43; s v i 1 Byr'the use of the clutch units 3.5 and t 4,5 v:-in:the arrangement as above described, of the "multiple disc :type, t the change speed transmissionis. operable to change from hightolowspeedorfrom.

lowtohigha speed adjustment; ;:without-: stopping:

operation of the motor M and the driven shaftill,

the: clutch units merely passing-momentarily:-

through their: neutral positions in a transitory movement. i

The-high and low speedpositionsrof the hand lever T are preferably indicatedzby' readilyyvisi' bleJ-markings on the outer-side; of the wall ilflb of i ramgstru'ctu-re l0. vFor example; a suitable-"dialorindicator plate bearing the notationsfiHigh 4 and Low at its opposite forward and rearends, respectively, may be employed for:- this purpose;

The plate 51 is secured insuch position above-and? relative to hand lever TC that; the handle: end r01 this lever willbe positioned.belowxandFinlineiwitlr:

the notation High? for the forwardly swung high speed position of the lever, andgbelowan-d in; line with the. notation Low when the levernis in itsrearwardly swung low speed p0 Siti0I1-;u'aSWi11f=b8' clear by reference to Fig, 6 of the drawings: Infinitely variable speed, spindle "drive:

mechanism ,-'.I-The cutter. spindle l5 ofithe ram unit an driv enjfromthe power driven change speed ,transmission Trof theunit through thegmedium'aof an:- embodiment of the infinitely variableispeed-driye mechanism V- of thepresent invention. Such drive mechanism V isi-n this instance, oft-themultiple V=-be1t, variableeffective-diameter;pul

ley typelcapable of. adjustment under: thescon,

trol'. of. the machine operator:v during and; vwithoutv interrupting the operation-of the drive; torrine finite, variation of the speed of? the cutteri spindle.

l5.- between the end limits ofthei maximumeran-ge ofa adjustment of such drive mechanism In this example the variablespeed -drive .mech-* anism V utilizes two :(2) -V-belts; and-includes a driving: pulley DP and a-driven. or; cutter spindle pulley SP with each of such pulleys'providing two (2) v -belt receiving grooves 1 andzeach beingso. constructedyand arrangedqas tot-permit; ofinfin-ite-- ly-variable adjustments in the extractive-diameters of; such pulley. groovesthrough the -maximum+ The spindle pulley *SP is mounted supported. independently of: but splined to the-sectionl5a of-the cuttenspin dle which extends vertically upwardly'above cut-' ter: head ll of ram structure It, section-lsfia being;

range .ofadjustment of-said pulleys.

provided-with splines i511. receivediinrspline ways provided rbyythe nulleyTstructure. fl lhegmounting;

E4 arrangement-11's;such1that rotatiorrloirtheapulley SBwill "rotate cutter spindle, l5iiwhilejpermittingg that; spindle ztox-move; vertically. upwardly and; downwardly axially through and Jrelativez; to; the:

' pulley. .Thedrivingpulley DP' receives a vertical shaft 6!! for rotation therewith andthereby but the 1pulley= isimounted and supported; independently of the-shaft.- The shaft Ellis mounted in positionspaced tothe rear of cutter spindleliron the ram structure l0, parallel withathet, cutter: spindle.v The-vertical shaft, 60 is driven-bythe. change speedtransmission T from a forward exe tension 40b of the driving oroutput shaft 4 01!" the transmission The Sp d p y which: receivesthe cutterspindle: [in drivingrelation.

therewith is; driven ,by and fromthe driving-p111? pulley, by a horizontal carriage 6| which includes:

a: horizontal baseor bed-plateila. -Reerringg now to Fig. 2B, the bed plate fizlagisatormedwithr a" generally centrally located vertical bore-etor opening B-lb therethrough in which avertical-ly disposed, annular: bearing rec eiving--. sleeveor: ring B-lcais mounted. The lower .--end;oi, vertical shaft v;. is? positioned 1; inc:- andextends axially through sleeve- 6 l c: in bed plate B! a; and. is; prorvided with; suitable splines Mather-"eon; Apbeyel' gear 6.2 is mounted on the lower; end on shaft 60 for rotating suchshaft' andis provided Witha;

hub tzarhavin-gan axial bore thGlSthIOlIghLfOEi receiving shaft fifl. The gear hubflfiiiai extends: vertically upwardly from. the; gear BBQ-"through bearing ring fi:Ic, -.on shaft 60-. The gear-fiz and, itshub 62a are formediwithisuitablesplinelgroovcs; therein which receive shaf twsplines 60d; respects tively, and thus key; the gear to the shaft for rota tiiontherewith. The lower end; of: shaft-:Slltand thebevel, gear 62 thereon, are smountedwandjournaled in bed plate 6| ccof carriage-:69! ,by a; set'iof annular; anti-friction bearing a-ssemblies 63,- whichare amounted 1 on y and, around the; 61: gear hub 6 2a positionedand secured m;.the:$Da.ce5 between that hub and. the, bearing, mounting ring 610. 1 g f A,bevel gear 8111s positioned ,atctherreanside shaft 60 inmesh with theebevelegear B-Z-mounted; onthe-v lowerendofv shaft 60. Gear 8ilzis-lmounted in; vertically. disposed positionforrotation around a horizontal .axis aligned with the axisgof the:

horizontal driving or output shaft extensionr iflbi' from transmission T, and is: positioned-rand journaledrdn a-setgof v. annular, anti-frictionbearing assemblies 180a! secured, in: a bearingvcarrier: which iszfixed on and dependslfromz 1511621031? riagel- 651-. Bevelgear 80 is provided rwith ia rear-.- ward-1y; extended hub portion fll whiolriisg-received an mounted; in bearingassernblies -fllla, A2111 axial-bore isform-ed extending completely through bevel gar'.'B0;andr-itshub -81 andczissproyided wittr suitable splinewaysa therein. The fo-rwarduendfof shaft; extension "4912 from transmission T; is .pz:o:-.= videdrwith: suitable 1 splines-l 40cc? thereon aando ex.-: tends 1 into: and: throughthe axial bore of rhevels gear BQl WitI'I'ETBhE splines-'40s slidab'lyn-receivedim the: ssplin-ewaysziformedi in the geare andehubas'o that; thezbevel-tgearmnzis keyedto 'shatt flhifork.

15 rotation thereby while the bevel gear is slidable axially in either direction on and relative to shaft 402). In this manner .power is transmitted from shaft 40 through the engaged bevel gears 8!! and 62, to the pulley shaft 60 for driving such shaft and the pulley DP thereon.

The upper end of the shaft Gllis positioned by and journaled in an annular, anti-friction bearing assembly 64 which is mounted and positioned between the upper end structure of the pulley DP and a vertically disposed pulley adjusting sleeve 65. The sleeve 55 is slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation in a horizontally disposed annular collar or ring member 66, formed integral with and supported in position extending rearwardly from the upper end of a bracket structure 61. The bracket structure is mounted and secured at its lower end to the forward portion of bed plate la in a position spaced forwardly from shaft 6B and the pulley DP, as by the machine screws 61a threaded into the bed plate. Bracket structure 61 extends vertically upwardly from bed plate Bid and is upwardly inclined or arched rearwardly and downwardly across the forward side of pulley DP to terminate at the upper end of the pulley and of shaft 60 in the horizontally disposed ring member' 66 concentric with and surrounding the upper end of the shaft 60.

The variable effective diameter driving pulley DP"'provides two V-belt receiving grooves E" therearound which are formed between pairs of circular discs having oppositely beveled or in clined inner faces, with one of the discs of each groove forming pair being fixed and the other disc of the pair being movable axially of the pulley toward and from the fixed disc of the pair to thus vary the effective diameter of the belt receiving groove E formed therebetween. In the present example, as expressed by the driving pulley DP, the lower pair of discs includes the fixed disc 10 and the movable disc H mounted on the-extended hub 10b above disc 19, with the discs 10 and H having their opposed inner faces a and b beveled radially outwardl in opposite directions to form the V-belt receiving groove E therearound and therebetween. The uppermost pair of belt groove forming discs consists of lower disc 12 fixed on and relative to extended hub 10b of disc 10, and the movable disc 13 mounted on andover the upper end of extended hub 10b, for axial movement thereon toward and from the fixed disc 12 to vary the effective diameter of the belt groove E formed around and between these discs. The opposed inner sides of discs 12 and 13 are provided with the oppositely radially outwardly beveled faces 0 and (1, respectively, to

form the 'V-belt receiving groove E therebetween.

The lowermost disc 10 of the lower pair of discs HF-H 'of pulley DP,'referring to Fig. 2B, is suitably keyed to shaft 60 for rotation by such shaft but is fixed against axial movement relative to the shaft; Disc ID has a depending hub portion 10a formed with an axial bore therethrough, which hub extends downwardly from said disc on shaft 60. This depending hub 10a of disc 10 isrotatably received and journaled in an annular anti-friction bearing assembly 14, which is mounted on and around hub Illa, being positioned between that hub and an annular collar or ring portion Bid which extends upwardly in continuation of the bearingmounting ring Bic. 'l he'lowermost fixed disc 10 also includes a sleeve forming hub portion 10b which extends upwardly a mounting hub or sleeve for the remaining discs l|, 'l2 and 13 of the driving pulley DP. The mov able 'disc'l'l which forms with the fixed disc 10' therebelow the lowermost V-belt receiving groove E of the pulley,: is mounted on the upwardly extended hub 'mb'of disc It for axial movement on such hub and shaft toward and from the lower-' Movable disc H is suitablymost fixed disc 1%]. splined to hub 'lllb'for rotation by and with the hub and'shaft 5i] while permitting axial sliding V movements of the disc on the hub,

Thelower disc 12 of the uppermost pair of discs IL-13 of the pulley, is mounted on hub 'lllb above, but in proximity to the movable disc H, and is suitably keyed to the hub for rotation therewith but held against movement axially of the hub. The uppermost disc 13 which constitutes the movable disc of the upper pair of discs l2--'l3,'is formed with a hub portion 13a which has 'a'slidin'g fit down over and around the upper end of hub 101) on shaft '50. The hub 13a extends a distance upwardly above discs 13 to terminate in a collar 73b of reduced external diameter, which slidably receives and fits down over the upper -'end of shaft 60, being suitably splined thereto for rotation by and with the shaft while permitting axial movements thereof relative to theshaft by vertical axial movement of the pulley disc '13. The annular anti-friction bearing assembly S4 is mounted in position on and around the exterior of collar 13b at the upper end of hub 13a of disc 13, and is secured between and connects such collar with the surrounding concentric pulley adjusting actuating sleeve 65. The hearing assembly 64 for the upper end of shaft 60' and pulley DP, thus forms a rotatable coupling which connects the pulley adjusting actuating sleeve 65 with the movable disc 13, through the medium of the collar 73b and hub 73a, and functionsito transmit upward or downward reciprocation of sleeve (55 in the fixed ring member 66 carried by the bracket 87, to the disc 13 to correspondingly raise or lower such disc on the sleeve forming hub 'lllb of the lowermost pulley section 10 on shaft 60, to thereby move said disc 13 from or toward the fixed disc 12 to decrease or increase the effective diameter of belt groove E formed between said discs.

The movable discs 1| and E3 of the pulley as sembly are connected together in a definite relationship, spaced a fixed distance apart, for simultaneous upward or downward movement as a unit on the shaft 6H and sleeve hub 10b of the lowermost disc 70, from and toward the fixed disc 10 and 12' with which the discs H and 13 are respectively'associated in forming and defining the two V-belt'grooves of E of pulley DP.- In this example,-the connection of the movable discs II and "i3 is effected by means of a series of rods 15, which are threaded at their lower ends into suitable vertically disposed bores 15a formed through the fixed disc 12 in axial alignment with bores 15a. The rods 75 are freely vertically re ciprocally received in and extending through the bores 15b for-movement therethrough independently of the fixed disc I2, In this instance, the

upper endportions of rods 15 are formed and constituted by externally threaded machine 17 screws 150 which are threaded down into internally threaded bores formed in the upper ends of the rods 75, respectively, with the disc 73 clamped and secured between the heads of such screws located at the upper side of disc '13, and the shoulders 15d formed on and around the rods I, respectively, and located at the under side of the disc 13. An desired number of the connecting rods 15 may be employed to rigidly connect the movable discs 72 and is together for vertical reciprocation as a unit, but Whatever the number employed, these rods are preferably spaced equidistant around the axis of the connected discs in order to maintain the discs in rigidly connected relation against any relative movements therebetween under the loads to which the discs may be subjected by the belts E in operation of the pulley.

The actuating sleeve 65 for simultaneously moving the pulley discs TI and 13 to adjust the effective diameters of the pulley grooves E, is mounted and confined for vertical reciprocation in "and through the fixed ring member 66, being in sliding engagement with the inner surface of such ring member but held therein against rotation relative thereto. The upper end portion of the fixed ring member 66 is formed of increased internal diameter to provide a horizontal annular bearing seat 66a therearound surrounding and concentric with actuating sleeve 65. A worm gear 16 of ring form is rotatably mounted and supported on said annular seat 66a in position surrounding and concentric with actuating sleeve 65. Worm gear 16 includes an upwardly extended hub .portion H, and the gear is maintained in'rotatably mounted position on seat 65a by a retaining ring 76a which is secured in position over and in sliding engagement with the upper side of said gear around the hub portion H, by attaching the ring in seated position on the upper edge of ring member 66 by means of machine screws or other suitable fastenings. The Worm gear 76 is provided with suitable worm teeth is operatively connected with the rotatably mounted worm gear 16 by an irreversible rotatable coupling, so that, rotation of worm gear it in its fixed horizontal plane about the axis of sleeve '65 and pulley shaft B9,v will, depending upon the direction of rotation of gear l6, force sleeve 65 to translate or move vertically upwardly 01' to move vertically downwardly within and through the ring member 66 and the worm gear 16. Upward movement of actuating sleeve from the fixed discs '10 and '12 to adjusted positions relative thereto to decrease the effective diameters of the belt grooves E, while downward movement of actuating sleeve 35 lowers the movable discs toward the fixed discs to adjusted positions relative theretofor increased effective diameters for the belt grooves E. As the discs H and 13 are simultaneously moved as a unit through equal distances, it follows that the belt grooves E are simultaneously adjusted to vary the effective diameters of the belt grooves E equally.

Referring now to Fig. 2A of the drawings, the

18 variable effective diameter'driven pulley SPof the variable speed drive mechanism V, which pul-' ley ismounted on cutter pindle I5 and is driven by driving pulley DP for rotating such spindle, is in all basic structural and mounting respects, identical with the driving pulley DP of the drive mechanism. As the arrangement, construction and mounting of the driving pulley DP have been described in detail hereinabove, it will not be necessary to repeat such detailed description for the pulley SP, beyond pointing out that the pulg ley SP includes the fixed pulley discs 70' and 72" and the movable discs H and 13, which cor respond to and are relatively arranged in the same manner as fixed discs 10 and 72 and movable discs ll and 13, respectively, of the pulley DP. The movable discs H and 13 of pulley SP are connected by the rods 75 for movement as a unit'so that these movable discs will have infinite positions of adjustment within the range of maximum movement of the discs H and E3, to

infinitely vary the speed of rotation imparted to cutter spindle l5.

In the case of the spindle driving pulley SP, the rotatable mounting for the lower end of the pul-"- ley on the spindle I5 is similar to that for the lower end of pulley DP, and embodies the annular anti-friction bearing assembly 14 mounted and carried in a horizontal plate 14a secured on the upper side of the cutter head l2 of ram struc-' ture H). The up perend of pulley SP is rotatably mounted and journaled in the bearing assembly 64 similar to such bearing assembly for pulley DP, with this bearing assembly 64, forming .the rotatable connection or coupling between the set of'movable discs H land 73 and the vertically reciprocal actuating sleeve 65 for verticallyadjusting such set of movable pulley sections ll and 13' as a unit. This sleeve 65 is mountedfor 1 65 raises the movable pulley discs H and 73 away vertical reciprocation in the horizontally disposed, fixed ring member 66' carried by and extending forwardly from a supporting bracket structure 61'. Bracket structure 61 includes ,a vertical column 67" which is mounted and supported from the cutter head [2 at the rear side of pulley SP. The vertical column 61" in this example, provides a mounting structure for the spindle brake mechanism B; motor starting-and stoppingswitches 2| and 22 (and the combined brake and motor control lever L. The actuating sleeve for pulley SPextends upwardly through the ring member 66' and the worm gear 16 rotatably mounted thereon, with the external threading 18 on sleeve in threaded engagement with the internal threading 19 of worm gear 16 in the identical manner described for these corresponding elements of the actuat ing mechanism for pulley DP, except that the in-' ternal screw threading of worm gear 19 of pulley SP is of opposite'hand relative to the threading of worm gear 19 of pulley DP. Thus, rotation 'of worm gear 16 of pulley SP will, dependingupon the direction of rotation of such gear, eitherforce the actuating sleeve upwardly or force it downwardly to raise or lower themovable discs 1 l and 13'=-a's a unit to decrease or increase the effective diameters of the belt grooves E of the pulley SP.

It is to be noted that the invention provides "a design and construction of infinitely variable speed drive mechanism which permits the use of variable effective diameter driving and driven pulleys, such as the pulleys DP and SP of the specific example hereof, which are of identical construe tion so that these pulleys are interchangeable and either of. hem may be embodied as a driving pulley or. asa driven pulley in assembling the drive mechanism, and as the various parts and elements of each pulley and its adjusting mechanism are identical, such parts are interchangeable in assembling the pulleys. Such design and construction eliminates any necessity for providing special designs for the driving and driven pulleys, respectively, or for providing special constructions of elements for either a driving or a driven pulley, with the result that the time and costs of manufacturing the parts. and elements for the pulleys and in assembling the pulleys, as well as in mounting the pulleys in the mechanism as driving and driven pulleys, is materially reduced.

In the variable speed drive mechanism V, utilizin-g the variable effective diameter pulleys DP and SP, such pulleys are mounted relative to each other on the ram structure l0, so that the fixed discs 10 and E2 of pulley DP are disposed in the same respective horizontal planes as the fixed pul leys H3 and 12, respectively, of the pulley SP, to locate the upper and lower pulley grooves E of pulley DP in general horizontal alignment with the upper and lower belt grooves E of the pulley SP. The movable discs of the respective pulleys DP and SP are arranged and operatively associated. for simultaneous movements in opposite directions to increase or decrease the eifective diam-- eters of the belt grooves E of one pulley and correspondingly and equally decrease or increase the efiective diameters of the belt grooves E of the other pulley. With the movable discs of one pulley at their limit of movement away from the fixed discs for minimum eiiective diameter of the belt grooves, the movable discs of the other pulley are at their limit of inward movement to ward. the fixed discs of that pulley for maximum effective diameter of the belt grooves, and vice versa.

Endless, fixed length V-belts E of flexible ma terial areprovided for operatively associating the driving pulley DP with the spindle pulley SP for driving the latter to rotate the spindle I5 at a rate of speed determined by the ratio of effective diameters of the belt grooves E for which the pulleys have been adjusted. These \I-belts'E may be of the usual V-belt designand construction familiar in this art and of any of the well known commercially available types suitable for this use. The V-belts E are mounted in the belt grooves E provided by the pulleys DP and SP'with each belt extending around the rear side of pulley DP in its respective groove E, and forwardly therefrom to and around the forward side ofpulley SP in its respective belt groove E of that pulley. It is to be-here noted, that by the arrangement of bracket structure 6'! of pulley DP and bracket structure 61-6'l"'of pulley SP; mounted between said pulleys, the rear belt receiving side of pulley SP are-both completely unobstructed, either by the pulley brackets or other structure of the pulley assemblies, so that, the belts E,or either of them, may be readily removed from or replaced on the pulleys without requiring disassembly or removal and replacement or reassembly of any part or element of the pulley mounting and supporting structures. To. eifect belt removal or replacement, it is only necessary to lift the removal cover H. from position on the unit R, enclosing the drive mechanism V in order to expose the respective unobstructed belt receiving sides of the pulleys, suitable openings being provided in the top wall of the cover M for freely passing therethrough the hand: lever L. and the indicator dial VD.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the construotionand mounting of each of the similar pulleys DP and SP is such that each pulley with its efiective diameter adjusting mechanism and supporting bracket structure 6! or 61, forms a complete self-supporting unit which is supported independently of the shaft with which it is operatively associated in either driving or driven relation. The pulleys DP and SP are selfsupporting and aligned and are operable for retation andfor effective diameter adjustment with either or both the shaft lit in the case of pulley DP, or the spindle It in the case of pulley SP, completely removed from operative association with such pulleys. The pulley DP is similar in construction and mounting to pulley SP and may serve as an example of the construction and mounting for both pulleys. lhe pulley DP is rotatahly journaled in and is supported andmaintained in position by the bearing assembly '14 at the lower end of the pulley mounted between the adjacent fixed supporting structure and. the depending hub We of fixed disc ill, and by the bearing assembly 6d mounted in the ring member $35 of bracket 6 at the upper end of the pulley, which bearing receives and rotatably journals therein the upwardly extended hub portion 13b of the upper movable disc I? of the pulley. The adjusting mechanism for varyin the effective diameter of the pulley DP is mounted and supported on rin member 66 as hereinbefore explained. The pulley disc '53 is mounted and sul ported on the upwardly extended hub l'fib of the lowermost pulley disc it, and similarly discs H and iii are also mounted and supported on such extended hub lllb. Thus, the complete pulley hub formed by the hub ma-41Gb of disc ill and. hub its '53?) of disc it, provides an axial boretherethrough for receiving a shaft, such as shaft 80, in driving or driven relation with the pulley as may be desired, but such shaft, if used, does not mount and support the pulley DP thereon, the pulley being supported and positioned independently of shaft 65E by bearing assemblies T4 an'd' 64 (see Fig. 2B).

In accordance with a further feature of the variable speed drive V of the mechanism ofthe invention, provision is made for continuously, automatically maintaining the required degree of belt tension on the belts E in mounted position thereof on and connecting the pulleys DP and SP in drivin relation, In the specific expression of this feature in the present example, the carriage ti which mounts and supports the complete assembly of the driving pulley DP together with its supporting bracket structure, is mounted for floating under the action of a spring loading which continuously exerts forces on the carriage acting in a direction to move the carriage with the pulley DP away from the spindle pulley SP.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2B, 9 and 10, the carriage iii includes the horizontal bed plate tie extending across and between the opposite side, parallel tubular members 93. A carriage supporting and guiding rod is fixed in and extends longitudinally through each tubular member 36] with the opposite ends of each rod extended a distance upwardly beyond the opposite ends of its tubular mounting member. Thus, a pair of spaced, parallel and horizontal disposed supporting rods M are provided for movably mounting carriage ill for horizontal movements in opposite directions along a straight line path disposed longitudinally of ram structure if]. The spaced forward ends of the supporting andguiding rods 9! are slidably. mounted, respectively,v in

anti-friction bearing blocks 92, such bearing blocks bein spaced apart in alignment transversely of and bein mounted and supported on and from the ram structure Ill. The spaced rear ends of the rods 9| are mounted in a pair of similar bearing blocks 92.

The bearing blocks 92 are identical, and the construction thereof is illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 of the drawings, Each block includes a mounting stem 92a which depends therefrom in vertically disposed position and is received in a vertical bore 9% in a boss 920 formed fixed to or integral with ram structure H]. The under side of a bearing block 92 is engaged and seats upon the upper edge surface of boss 92c surrounding stem 92a, such engaging surfaces bein machined to accurately position the bearin block. Each bearing block 92 is formed with a bore 92d therethrough which in mounted position of the block is axially aligned with a carriage mounting rod 9| for receivinga rod for reciprocation therein and therethrough. In this instance the projecting opposite end lengths of each rod 9| which are received in bearing blocks 92, respectively, is formed with axially disposed upper and lower, parallel grooves forming anti-friction ball races 9m and 91b therein which are located in diametrically opposite sides of the rod. Series of anti-friction balls 93 are mounted within the bore 92d of a, bearing block 92, located in the upper and lower ball races 9|a and 9|b, respectively,

of rod 9|. Each series of balls 93 is confined between ball retainers 93a mounted in bearing block 92 located adjacent opposite ends thereof and extending into the adjacent ball race of rod 9!, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 10.

By referring to- Fig. 10a, it will be noted that the grooves provided in arod 9| to form the ball races 9m and 9| b respectively, are of V-shape in cross section. Thus, each set of anti-friction balls 93 is positioned in its ball race forming V groove 9|a or 9H), with the balls of the set revolvably confined between the opposite outwardly diverging side walls of the groove and the adjacent portion of the curved surface opposite .the groove, provided by the truly cylindrical bore 92d formed through the bearing block 92. As a result of this construction and arrangement, the radial alignment of the ball race forming grooves Ma and 9|b, which are located in diametrically opposite sides ofa rod 9|, becomes relatively unimportant and such radial alignment is thus not a critical factor in assuring rigidity and accuracy of the mounting of a rod 9| in a bearing block 92. makes for ease and low cost of manufacture by eliminating the necessity of forming grooves in the cylindrical wall of the bore 92d in a block 92 for alignment with the grooves 9m and 9|b in'a' rod 9|. Further, such bearing construction and arrangement is easily pre-loaded by merely controlling the diameter of the bore 92d in a, bearing block 92, or by selecting anti-friction balls 93 of a proper diameter.

It will be further noted by reference to Fig.v 10 of the drawings, that in this type of anti-friction bearing mounting for a reciprocating rod member, the anti-friction balls 93 move laterally a distance equal to approximatelyone-half /2) of the distance that the rod 9| moves, so that the lengthof the space'between the retaining plates 93a and the total number of balls 93 must be greater by a distance equal to approximately one-half the distance of travel of the rod 9|.

Thus, carriage BI is mounted and supported at Such construction also maximum effective diameters.

its forward end by the forwardly extended portions of the rods 9| received in the spaced forhorizontal through on the series of anti-friction balls 93; and, similarly, carriage 6| is supported at the rear end thereof by the rearwardly extended portions of rods 9| which are received and supported in the spaced bearing blocks 92, respectively, positioned at the rear end of the carriage, for free reciprocation in such blocks on the anti-friction balls therein. a In this manner, carriage 6| with pulley DP thereon is supported from the forward and rear bearing blocks 92 by the spaced supporting and guiding rods 9|, for horizontal reciprocation toward and from spindle pulley SP. This horizontally reciprocal carriage is spring loaded by coil expansion springs 94 which are mounted on and around the projecting rear ends, respectively, of rods 9| between the rear side of bearing blocks 92 which are fixed relative to rods stand carriage 6|, and suitable heads or caps 99a fixed on and movable with the rods at the extreme rear ends thereof. The expansion springs 94, being confined between fixed blocks 92 and heads 94a on movable rods 9|, continuously act to exert forces on rods 9| to force such rods rearwardly and thus move carriage 6| rearwardly in a direction away from spindle pulley SP. The springs 94 are so arranged relative to the position of carriage 6| and pulley DP thereon, that with belts E in driving relation on pulleys DP and SP, carriage 6| is moved a distancesufficiently forwardly as to place springs 94 under compression to develop a total force of required magnitude to continuously maintain the belts E under the desired tension on and between the pulleys. It is to be noted that by such carriage arrangement in addition to the automatic maintenance of belt tension, the removal and replacement of belts is rendered easier due to the fact that carrriage 6| may be forced forwardly toward pulley SP to thus reduce the spacing therebetween and completely loosen the belts.

If desired, an adjustable stopscrew 95 is g threaded into the rear end of bed plate Bla in centrally located position thereon disposed longitudinally thereof between rods 9|, for engagement with a stop member or lug' 95a extendinglupwardly from the ram structure I0 spaced rearwardly from and in line with screw 95. This stop screw may be adjusted to function to engage lug 95a to arrest rearward movement of carriage 6| when the belts are'removed therefrom. 1 Referring now to Figs. 2A and 2B of the drawings, the infinitely variable speed drive mechanism V is shown therein in full lines in adjusted position for minimum low speed of rotation of spindle l5, in that, the movable discs and 13 of the driving pulley DP are at their limit of'movement upwardly or away from fixed discs "ill and I2 to thus adjust belt grooves E to their minimum effective diameters, while the movable discs 1| and 13 of pulley SP are at their limit of downward or inward movement in position adjacent the fixed discs 19' and 12' to thus adjust belt grooves E of pulley SP to their The reversed position of adjustment of the pulleys of the drive V for maximum high speed rotation of spindle IS, in which the movable discs 1| and 130f pulleyDP are at their limits of inward movement positioned adjacent the fixed discs 19 and 12 for maximum effective diameters of belt grooves E", while the movabl discs H and 12' 

